Science

Honeybee deaths rose last year. Here's why farmers would go bust without bees
Beekeepers lost nearly half of their honeybee colonies last year. Without bees, farmers can't grow the fruits and plants that feed us. So farmers are working harder to get their crops pollinated.
Scientists have found signs of a new kind of gravitational wave. It's really big
Scientists say they've found evidence of a very long gravitational wave that could open a window onto supermassive black holes — and perhaps even other extreme, unseen objects in the universe.
Researchers use AI to help save a woodpecker species in decline
Minnesota researchers are using small audio recording devices to better understand the range and population of red-headed woodpeckers. The bird has seen a precipitous population decline over several decades. Scientists want to learn where the bird is doing well, so important habitats can be preserved.
The move launches a new era of meat production aimed at eliminating harm to animals and drastically reducing the environmental impacts of grazing, growing feed for animals and animal waste.
SpaceX mission returns from space station with ex-NASA astronaut, 3 paying customers
The return caps a nine-day mission to the International Space Station. The mission was funded by Axiom Space, a company that wants to build and operate the world's first commercial space station.
Lake Superior: Honoring and protecting Minnesota’s natural wonder
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a scientist, two artists and people who dip into its icy waters about the special relationships Minnesotans have with this natural wonder and how the lake is threatened by climate change.